8-year-old boy was sleeping in a car when an alleged drunk driver hit it. The child died
ABSECON – A child sleeping in a parked car was fatally injured in a predawn accident here.
The youth, identified in a fundraising appeal as 8-year-old Javier Velez, was accompanying his father on a fishing trip when the accident occurred around 3:25 a.m. on July 23, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
A car driven by an Egg Harbor City man veered to the right and struck the parked vehicle on westbound White Horse Pike, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
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The boy died after being taken to a hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
Investigation into fatal crash is underway
The driver, 25-year-old Edward Johnston, was accused of driving under the influence, speeding and reckless driving, according to municipal court records.
“Additional charges may be forthcoming pending final investigation into the cause of the crash,” the prosecutor’s office said.
A GoFundMe appeal seeking help with funeral expenses had raised more than $22,000 by Wednesday.
“Javier was so full of love and life,” says the appeal.
“He loved the color green and playing sports.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor’s Detective Dylan Hutton at 609-909-7885 or Absecon police Sgt. Ryan O’Connell at 609-641-0667, extension 208.
People can also contact Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 800-658-8477. The organization offers rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Reach him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Absecon crash kills 8-year-old child sleeping in a parked car
